Sedert enkele weken heb ik het IKE jacket van Ranger Medic Bill Clark die met het 2nd RangerBn alle campagnes in de ETO meemaakte....
Ik kende dit jacket al vele jaren en heb Bill Clark nog persoonlijk gekend net voor z'n dood in 1992. Z'n weduwe leeft nog en ik heb contact met één van z'n dochters die me geholpen heeft een cv van Bill te maken...
Het IKE jacket zoals dit in 1945 gedragen werd... (zonder Sgt Stripes: zie tekst voor de reden....)
Mouwkenteken: een ORIGINELE 2nd Ranger Scroll... er staat er nog eentje op de rechtermouw als combat-patch....
Medic Combat Badge, Silver Star, 2x Bronze Star, 2x Purple Heart, Good Conduct, American Defense, ETO Campaign met Silver Star en Arrowhead...
William Clark in 1943
Sgt Clark in Normandië in Juni 1944 (links met drinkbeker)
Uitreiking van de Silver Star begin 1945
William Clark en z'n echtgenote Grace aan Pointe du Hoc in Juni 1989...
CV: William Clifton Clark, Jr
Combat Medic
ASN: 33068952
HQ Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion
Rank: T4-S/Sgt-Pvt
Before Normandy T4 William Clark was promoted to S/Sgt, replacing the Staff Sgt who was demoted by Dr Block.
Dr. Block, the Officer commanding all Bn Medics, was quite short-tempered, especially if his personal authority or integrity were questioned. While still in England his Staff Sergeant (his second in command in the medics) had begun to undermine his authority and decisions with respect to several issues. Block warned him once. The second time, he was demoted to Private and allowed to transfer to one of the line companies as a BAR man. He was killed on June 7th in France.
The Second Ranger Battalion was divided on D-Day and SGT Clark was assigned to be in charge of the Aid Station and Company "medics" assigned to A & B Companies.
Upon landing at Omaha Dog Green Beach, both companies suffered heavy losses; SGT Clark, without hesitation, calmly, and with great presence of mind treated the wounded, one with an open pneumothorax (sucking chest wound), wherever they had fallen.
Most of the other medics already were either WIA or KIA.
Later, while he was B Company's aid man, the Company, ordered to protect the left flank of the 4th DIV, moved into an enemy mine field, at night, directly in front of three enemy strong points. Three mines were detonated, killing two and wounding six, two seriously. Immediately, he moved in, groping in the darkness to tend to the wounded and, eventually, remained all night with the seriously wounded in order to care for, and guard, them.
Unhappily, following a minor scrape with some local officials in Belgium, William Clark (who also could be short-tempered) and Block got into a silly dispute as to whether or not he should carry his aid kit with him at all times even when not in action The final exchange was, "Well for Christ's sake do you want me to sleep with the damned thing?" and , "From now on you will report to Sgt. Bayer, Private Clark." Later William Clark requested, and received, permission to be assigned to B Co. as their aid-man. Except for getting supplies, he never appeared at Bn HQ.
Ranger Clark was awarded the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and the ETO Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead (Omaha Beach Asault) and Silver Star for 5 Campaigns (Ardennes/Alsace-Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland).
In 1945 he was awarded the Combat Medic Badge.
Upon his return home William Clark Clark married Grace Hemelt and they have 5 children.
He became a police officer in Washington, D.C. After serving on both the vice and auto squads for some years he retired as Detective Sergeant.
He died 16 February 1992 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
In 1995, William Clark was inducted in the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia
Enjoy 
